Lifelong Pittsburgh county horsewoman Macie Graves, 19, of Hartshorne claimed her very first AQHYA youth barrel racing world championship title in her final year of eligibility. “I just can’t believe it’s happened to me. My father, Lance Graves, is a barrel racing industry legend.
I grew up watching him win multiple AQHA World Championships and the thrill of receiving those iconic “golden globe” trophies was incredible. I used to dream that maybe one day, it could be me. Thanks to my amazing equine partner “Hickory’s Hot Native” I have been blessed to achieve a lifetime dream!” The AQHYA World Championship show is held annually in August at the Jim Norick Coliseum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and boasts over 3,000 entries from all across the United States and Six foreign countries.
Young horseman ages 19 and under gather in Oklahoma for two weeks of hard fought competition in an effort to be crowned “world champion” in each respective equine discipline. The barrel racing competition began on Saturday, Aug. 10 with the Level two barrel racing finals as well as the level 3 preliminary round of competition.
Macie and her horse affectionately called “Dude” had a strong performance on Saturday scoring a 16.89 that won the Level 2 finals and qualified the team back with the 3rd fastest qualifying time to Sunday’s world championship finale. “I was so excited to win the L2 finals! We received a beautiful trophy, buckle and leather coat and of course the opportunity to compete in Sundays world championship finals!” The top 15 contestants from Saturday’s level 3 preliminary round advanced to Sunday’s “sudden death” finale.
“The pressure of a sudden death finale is very different than working on an average. You literally just have to leave everything out there in the arena. It’s all or nothing.
” Says Macie. Macie’s father, Lance Graves is also her coach and he relayed some wisdom to Macie just before she made her final run that his coach had related to him as a young competitor over forty years ago. “My dad said to me, remember sister, this is a timed event.
Keep going forward and if you’re going to make a mistake, you better make a FAST ONE!” Fortunately, Macie and Dude did not make any mistakes and they were really fast posting a 16.66 the fastest time of the entire competition awarding Macie her very own “golden globe!” “My horse gave me his entire heart and when I crossed the finish line I heard the crowd cheer and the announcer said NEW LEADER! I immediately looked at my dad who was in the alley jumping up and down screaming for me! It was a moment I will never forget!” Macie is a recent 2024 Lakewood Christian School graduate and senior class Valedictorian. She is a 4 time HCAA All State high school athlete in basketball and cheerleading and a two time HCAA 2A division state champion basketball player.
Macie will be attending Oklahoma State University on a rodeo scholarship this fall as well as an academic scholarship as a member of OSU honors program. “I’ve pretty much had a fairy tale year and I’m so thankful to everyone at Lakewood Christian School for pushing me in my academic career and to my dad who taught me to always believe in myself. I’m ready for the next chapter of my life!”.
